In a world where a single glance can condemn you and a kind heart is easily mistaken for a threat, Gouda Takeo has long accepted his fate. Two meters tall and built like a fortress, he's used to the fearful stares, the empty seats, and the children who cry at the sight of him. But when he saves a delicate girl from a molester on a packed train—only to flee before she can even learn his name—Takeo's life is set on a collision course with a misunderstanding of epic proportions.
Because the girl h
My Love Story!! Beyond the Misunderstanding - Gorilla Loses Love in the Rainy Park
Late May. The sky had been a sullen, about-to-burst gray since morning.
Gouda Takeo walked the halls of Shuei High with heavy steps. Two meters tall, a hundred and twenty kilos. His custom 4L navy blazer soaked up the humid air and pressed down on his shoulders heavier than usual. A buzz cut of black hair. Small, deep-set black eyes. A gorilla-like, thick-featured face with heavy lips. That massive body came to a dead stop in front of the shoe lockers.
(Rinko sent me a message.)
That morning, his phone screen had shown a message from Yamato Rinko. *"Hey, Takeo-kun. Today, after school, I want you to come to Minatosaka Park. There's something I need to talk about. I'll be waiting."*
Just that. A short little note.
And yet, ever since morning, something deep in Takeo's chest had been restless and uneasy.
(What's this "talk" about?)
(Is it still something about Ichinose?)
(Or maybe...)
The thought *"what if"* flickered through his mind.
(Stop it. No way someone like me has a chance.)
Takeo shook his head.
The words Ichinose Subaru had said to him that day at Patisserie Lumiere were still stuck deep in his ears. *"Stay away from Rinko-san. A man like you doesn't deserve her."* That sweet-faced patissier had meant every word.
(I know. I'm not good enough for Yamato.)
(That's why Yamato likes Suna.)
(I'm going to cheer them on.)
That's what he'd decided.
And yet, since morning, his heart had been pounding, loud and relentless.
"Gouda, you look kinda pale today."
At the classroom entrance, one of his classmates called out to him.
"Huh? Oh, no, I'm fine."
Takeo forced a smile.
(Pale, huh. Yeah, figures. I didn't sleep all night.)
Last night in bed, he'd checked his phone screen over and over. Reread Rinko's message again and again. *"I'll be waiting."* What was hidden behind those words? The more he thought, the less he could sleep.
(What is Yamato going to tell me?)
(What does she want to talk about?)
Even during class, Takeo's head was in the clouds.
The words on the blackboard wouldn't register. The teacher's voice sounded far away. Outside the window, the sky grew darker and darker gray.
(Is it going to rain?)
(I hope it doesn't.)
After school.
Takeo was running late for their meeting.
(Crap. Homeroom ran long.)
(Yamato might already be waiting.)
Takeo burst out the front gate of Shuei High.
Through the redevelopment district in front of Minatosaka Station, south of City Hall. Minatosaka Park was a twelve-minute walk from the station. Seven if he ran.
(It's bad to keep her waiting.)
(Yamato might be standing there in the rain.)
Takeo's massive frame pounded the asphalt.
Thud, thud — his footsteps echoed.
Passersby turned around with startled faces.
"Whoa, what is that huge guy—"
"That gorilla-looking dude is running!"
Those voices never reached Takeo's ears.
(Yamato. Yamato. Yamato.)
That was all that filled his head.
He turned the corner at the station intersection, passed City Hall.
That's when it happened.
"Gouda-kun."
A low, clear voice stopped him.
Takeo froze.
Ichinose Subaru stood in front of him.
Light brown hair casually styled, a red bandana around his neck. That sweet face. Amber eyes. The owner and chef of Patisserie Lumiere stood with his arms crossed, looking up at Takeo in his school uniform, blocking his path.
"I—Ichinose-san..."
Takeo stood rooted to the spot, gasping for breath.
"Rinko-san is waiting for you. At the park."
Ichinose spoke quietly.
"I—I know. That's why I'm heading there now."
"No. There's no need for you to go."
Ichinose's voice rang cold.
"Huh...?"
"The one Rinko-san is waiting for isn't you. You don't need to go."
Ichinose took a step closer to Takeo.
"You don't understand Rinko-san's feelings at all. Even if you go, you'll only hurt her."
(Wh—what is he saying?)
Takeo's mind went blank.
(If I go, I'll hurt Yamato?)
(What does that mean?)
"B—but Yamato said she wanted me to come..."
"That's because there's something she has to tell you. But it's not something you should hear. It's none of your concern."
Ichinose's words were merciless.
"Rinko-san is too kind. She can't say it straight to a man like you. So I'll say it for her. You shouldn't go to the park today."
Something deep in Takeo's chest tightened.
(Not my concern.)
(Yamato has something she can't tell me.)
(So that's how it is.)
"...But."
Takeo hung his head.
(But Yamato called for me.)
(Yamato said she's waiting.)
(Just that alone makes me feel like I have to go.)
"Yamato is waiting."
Takeo lifted his head.
"What?"
"Yamato is waiting for me. So I'm going."
Takeo brushed past Ichinose.
"Wait, Gouda-kun!"
Ichinose's voice chased after him.
But Takeo didn't look back.
He ran. Ran. Ran.
(Yamato is waiting.)
(That's enough.)
(I'm going to see Yamato.)
From the sky, raindrops began to fall — plip, plip.
At first just a few drops.
But soon they turned into a fierce downpour — *shaaaaa*.
(It's really coming down now.)
(Is Yamato okay?)
(She's not getting soaked, is she?)
Takeo picked up speed.
His uniform soaked up the rain and grew heavy.
Water dripped from his hair.
His vision blurred in the rain.
Still, Takeo kept running.
He finally reached the entrance of Minatosaka Park.
Six acres. A fountain plaza, a playground area, a row of cherry trees. This park, famous for its winter illuminations, was now shrouded in rain.
(Where's Yamato?)
Gasping for breath, Takeo ran through the park.
The fountain plaza.
The benches.
The cherry trees.
And there — on the farthest bench in the fountain plaza.
Yamato Rinko was there.
Soft chestnut hair falling to her shoulders.
Big, round brown eyes.
Her Koizumi Girls' Academy uniform.
Her small body was soaked, trembling in the rain.
"Yamato!"
Takeo shouted.
Rinko raised her head.
Her big eyes fixed on Takeo.
Rain-soaked bangs clung to her white forehead.
"Takeo-kun..."
Rinko's voice was nearly drowned out by the rain.
Takeo rushed to her side.
"Why are you out here without an umbrella?! You'll catch a cold!"
Takeo started to take off his jacket.
But his jacket was already soaked through.
"I'm sorry. I just... I had something I absolutely had to tell you, Takeo-kun."
Rinko spoke in a trembling voice.
"What is it? Waiting out in rain like this — something's wrong."
"Because I absolutely have to tell you today, Takeo-kun."
Rinko clutched both hands tightly against her chest.
"Takeo-kun, listen. I—"
Rinko started to speak.
That's when it happened.
"Rinko-san."
A cold voice cut through the rain.
Takeo and Rinko turned toward the voice at the same time.
Ichinose Subaru stood there.
Without an umbrella, soaked to the bone.
His red bandana, wet from the rain, clung to his neck.
"Ichinose... Chef..."
Rinko murmured softly.
"Rinko-san, that's enough. This guy is a dense fool who can't even notice your feelings."
Ichinose glared sharply at Takeo.
"No! I—Takeo-kun is—"
Rinko shouted.
But the rest of her words didn't reach Takeo's ears.
(Ichinose is right.)
(I'm a dense fool who can't notice Yamato's feelings.)
(What is Yamato trying to tell me?)
(I don't know. I just don't know.)
Takeo's head was a mess — the sound of rain, Ichinose's words, Rinko's shouting, all jumbled together.
"Yamato, I'm sorry."
Takeo squeezed the words out.
"Huh...?"
Rinko's face went stiff.
"I'll go get Suna."
Takeo said that, and turned his back.
"Takeo-kun! No! It's not Sunakawa-kun—"
Rinko's voice chased him through the rain.
But Takeo didn't look back.
He ran.
Through the rain, he ran with everything he had.
(Yamato likes Suna.)
(Yamato wanted to talk to me about Suna.)
(It's not something I should hear.)
(I'm going to cheer them on.)
(That's how it should be.)
The rain lashed Takeo's face.
The rain in his eyes mixed with tears and streamed down.
(Damn it.)
(Why does it hurt this much?)
Takeo burst out of the park.
Rinko just watched his receding back.
"Takeo-kun..."
Strength drained from Rinko's knees.
She crumpled to the ground.
Her hands pressed against the wet asphalt.
The rain beat relentlessly down on Rinko's small body.
"No... I... I like you, Takeo-kun..."
Rinko's whisper was swallowed by the rain.
"Rinko-san."
Ichinose crouched beside her.
"Can you stand?"
Ichinose supported Rinko's arm.
With his help, Rinko managed to get to her feet.
"...I'm sorry. Chef. I really did want to tell Takeo-kun."
Tears streamed down Rinko's face, mingling with the rain.
Ichinose said nothing.
He simply gently drew her rain-soaked shoulders into an embrace.
The rain kept falling.
——
Takeo kept running through the rain.
From Minatosaka Park to the northern residential district.
The Gouda house, and next door, the Sunakawa house.
Takeo jabbed the Sunakawa intercom violently.
"Suna! Suna!"
Again and again and again.
The front door opened.
Sunakawa Makoto stood there.
Smooth black hair. Narrow, cool black eyes. Refined features. His usually cool expression flickered with surprise at the sight of the soaked Takeo.
"Takeo, what's wrong? You're drenched."
"Suna, Yamato is calling for you."
Takeo said, gasping for breath.
"Yamato? For me?"
Makoto's brow twitched.
"She's waiting at the park. Yamato has something to tell you. Hurry, go to her."
Takeo looked Makoto straight in the eye and spoke.
Makoto was silent for a moment.
"...Got it."
That was all he said before stepping out of the doorway into the rain.
Without an umbrella.
Takeo watched his best friend's back as he ran through the rain toward the park.
(Suna is cool.)
(Of course Yamato would fall for Suna.)
(Someone like me could never be good enough for Yamato.)
Deep in Takeo's chest, something shattered.
A crack.
A small but certain sound, like breaking glass.
(I knew it.)
Takeo murmured softly.
The rain beat mercilessly down on his massive frame.
Takeo stood frozen in front of his own house.
(Yamato likes Suna.)
(I'll cheer them on.)
(That's fine.)
(That's how it should be.)
He repeated it over and over in his heart.
But the tears wouldn't stop.
Rain and tears mixed and ran down Takeo's cheeks.
(I love her.)
A scream welled up from the depths of his heart.
(I love Yamato.)
(I love her.)
(But I don't have the right.)
Takeo clenched his fists tight.
His nails dug into his palms.
The pain distracted, just a little, from the pain in his heart.
"...Yamato."
Takeo's whisper was swallowed by the rain.
——
The next day.
Gouda Takeo stayed home from school.
Even when he woke up, his body wouldn't move.
No — he couldn't bring himself to move it.
He stared at the ceiling from his bed.
The rain had already stopped.
Morning light streamed through the gap in the curtains.
But Takeo's heart was still soaked from yesterday's rain.
(I don't want to go to school.)
(I don't want to see Yamato.)
(I don't want to see Suna either.)
(I don't want to see anyone.)
Takeo picked up his phone.
He turned it off.
The screen went black.
(Now no one can reach me.)
(I'm alone.)
Takeo pulled the covers over his head.
"Takeo, aren't you going to eat breakfast?"
His mother's voice came from downstairs.
"...I'm fine. Don't need any."
Takeo answered from under the covers.
"Oh my, are you feeling unwell? What about school?"
"...I'm staying home."
Takeo said shortly.
Silence followed for a while.
"...I see. Rest well, then."
His mother said nothing more.
Takeo slowly dragged himself out of bed.
On his desk sat a bag of cookies, still on display.
Cookies Rinko had made by hand for him.
Since that day, he still hadn't been able to finish them all.
Next to the bag was a handwritten note.
*"To Takeo-kun. Thank you for everything. Please eat these if you'd like. Yamato Rinko."*
Round, cute handwriting.
Takeo picked up the note.
He read it over and over and over.
"...I'm not good enough for Yamato."
Takeo murmured.
Inside his heart, the scream continued.
(I love her.)
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